The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The Meeting at Fort Wayne-Mrs. Cougar on
the Liquor Law and the Kansas Election.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS journal.

Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.
FORT WAYNE, Nov. 26.-The Woman's Stuff
rage Association Of the Twelfth congressional
district began a two days session at the Berry
street Methodist Episcopal Church yesterday aft
ernoon. Mrs. Helen NJ. Cougar presided and
was the principal speaker at both afternoon and
evening meetings, Miss Susan B. Anthony not
arriving in time to participate.
In her afternoon address Mrs Cougar speak
ing of the IL o'clock law. said it was of little
worth. If the saloon keeper took the money of
her husband son and made him drunk by IL
o'clock, she preferred that he should keep him
the remainder of the night, rather than turn
him out TO poison his home with his presence
and turn domestic joys into a pandemonium
til morning
In the evening Mrs. Cougar spoke at much
length on her favorite topic. THE Unrestricted
Ballot" She first asked those who were Infa-
vorable to the principles she was advocating to
take the counsel of st. Paul: know all things,
prove all things, hold fast that which is good"
She traced the first thought of freedom to its
tangible form in the production of the Magma
Charta, and later in the Declaration of indie
pendence. Then she traced the history of the
popular vote in America. showing how it was
first restricted to church members, then to prop
erty holders, and all the time excluding
the colored vote, but how finally
the colored man was enfranchised.
She had not come to advocate 'womans
rights" but ''human rights" "T challenge any
one" she declared, ''to argue this question with
me from the point of justice. for no man can
argue with but must be convinced that he
must disfranchse himself, enfranchise me-"
Mrs Cougar devoted considerable portion of
her remarks to sharp criticism of Senator
Ingalls's recen mt article in the Forum. She de-
clared that the enfranchsement of women
would increase the popular vote ten millions,
and five and one-haf millions oyer and above
the lliterate vote Her argument in answer to
the question, will the good women votea" was
strong, and was backed by actual test in the
municipal election of Leaven worth Kan.
So many earbled reports of the history of
suffrage in Kansas had been scattered
across the country by it's enemies that she, fresh
from the contest, felt interest in having the
matter properly understood The speaker then
related how. through ner leadership, they had
succeeded in getting the Legislature to pass the
municipal woman suffrage bill, which gave
women the right to vote at municipal elections.
She explained that prohibition did not prohibit
In Leavenworth, for the reason that the officers
there we're not In sympathy with the law. At
the polls ]. SAT women voted the law and order
ticket, and 697 voted the Democratic saloon.
By The votes of the women the former Demo
cratic majority for Mayor of LOO
reduced to bare 16 By the votes of the
women, the entire law and order City Council
and all but two of the school board was elected.
Before this the eltire city government was under
the control of the saloon element Had il not
been for the women, the votes of the men alone
would have elected the entire saloon ticket by
an average majority of $685. The objections
paraded against women voting vanished in the
face of the true facts
AT the close OF ner lecture, MIS-. cougar asked
for those who were in sympathy with the move
ment to rise, and nearly everybody in the room
sprang to their feet
The convention closed tonight, with addresses
by Miss Susan b. Anthony, on Bread and Bal
lots. and Mrs. May Wright Sewall 'Domes-
tic Legislation The Berry-street Methodist
Episcopal Church crowded with intelli-
gent audience. in spite OF the terrific rain
storm. and both ladies very kindly re-
ceived. In the afternoon Miss Anthony and
Mrs. Wallace spoke and the organizations of
district and county committees were perfected.
Mrs. B. c. Nipde, wife of Judge Ninde, is the
new president of the local organizations Mrs.
date Eaton is secretary and c. j. Winehe is
treasurer; Mrs. W. D. Page, wife of the editor
of the News, is chairman of the press commit
tee. A vigorous campaign in the interest of the
ballot for women is promised.